City Comparison
Waipahu vs Akron
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Waipahu scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Waipahu
Akron
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Akron is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
23% lower than in Waipahu.
Housing costs are a major driver: Waipahu's average rent is
96% higher than Akron's.
| Metric | Waipahu | Akron | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,200 | $1,123 | +96% |
| Groceries | $500 | $742 | -33% |
| Utilities | $250 | $234 | +7% |
| Transport | $150 | $357 | -58% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $130 | +115% |
| Monthly Total | $3,380 | $2,586 | +31% |
| Cost Index | 175 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Akron offers 12% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Akron delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Waipahu is estimated at
$75,000 vs $66,000 in Akron.
| Metric | Waipahu | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $64,000 | $73,000 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 36,571 idx | 85,882 idx |
| Household Income | $88,000 | $48,076 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Waipahu runs warmer on average — a 78°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Waipahu comes out ahead with 278 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Waipahu sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Waipahu | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 78.00°F | °F |
| Summer High | 87.30°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 68.30°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 18.90 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 278 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Akron has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 hours) per year compared to Waipahu.
Waipahu scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Waipahu leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Waipahu | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 32 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 65.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Akron is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Waipahu.
From a growth perspective, Waipahu is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Waipahu has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Waipahu | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,626 | 189,664 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | — |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 36.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.50% | 3.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Waipahu
Advantages
Rich cultural heritage and diverse community with exceptional local dining and markets.
Strategic central Oʻahu location with growing access to the Skyline rail transit system.
Consistently warm tropical climate with year-round outdoor recreational opportunities.
Strong community identity and active neighborhood civic organizations.
Proximity to major employment centers in Central and urban Honolulu.
Drawbacks
Significantly high cost of living and housing expenses compared to the U.S. mainland.
Heavy traffic congestion on the H-1 Freeway and local highways during peak hours.
Limited new housing inventory driving up purchase and rental prices.
High electricity and utility rates across the island.
Vulnerability to tropical weather events and climate-related infrastructure pressures.
Akron
Advantages
The overall cost of living in Akron is 15% lower than the national average, making it a highly affordable city.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, with average monthly rent at $1,123 and median home prices around $153,000.
Akron has a diverse economy with strong industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and the polymer sector.
The city offers a public transportation system (METRO RTA) with affordable monthly passes at $50.
Healthcare costs in Akron are approximately 14% lower than the national average.
Drawbacks
Akron has a high crime rate, with an overall crime rate 50% above the national average and a safety grade of C-.
The city is experiencing a projected population decline of -0.9% annually.
Akron has a negative job growth rate, with a 0.461% decline in employed population in 2024.
The lifestyle in Akron is largely car-dependent, with most errands requiring a vehicle and an average Walk Score of 48.
The median household income of $48,076 in 2024 is below the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Waipahu
#572Hawaii, USA
46.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,200
Avg Salary
$64,000
Cost Index
175
Commute
32 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
278/yr
Avg Temp
78.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
74
Business
65
Akron
#575Ohio, USA
46.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,123
Avg Salary
$73,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
65
Business
55
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